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The man said he also had a military-style box of assorted handgun ammunition with him, as well, Ottina said. He wanted to get rid of all of it, the captain explained.
The tour commander “immediately had the parking lot located across the street from the Police Department secured and taped off by the Fort Lee Police Department Emergency Services unit and the Patrol Division,” he said.
Police also closed off several blocks near the police department and Fort Lee Community Center near Inwood Terrace.
The bomb squad was called, along with the Fort Lee Fire Department.
As it turned out, the device was “a training grenade with the fuse removed,” Ottina said. “More ammunition was located at the apartment which was also deemed safe and removed by the Bergen County Bomb Squad. No residents of the adjoining apartments were ever in any danger and were not evacuated.”
The all-clear was given at 11:30 and the parking lot was reopened to the public.
Ottina added: “The Fort Lee Police Department wants to remind residents that if they come across ammunition or explosives to please leave them where they are and contact your local Police Department for proper disposal. No one should transport ammunition or explosives in their vehicle.”
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